Omron, known for their ubiquitous monitors, releases its first smartwatch that will enable users to check their blood pressure levels anytime, anywhere.
Most of the smartwatch available in the market today serve as a pedometer and heart rate monitor, although there are still a few kinks that companies need to work out. Now, Omron's blood pressure smartwatch, called the HeartGuide, is changing the game in the wearable technology department.
Omron Smartwatch, A 'Breakthrough'
"HeartGuide is a key way Omron is advancing our mission of Going for Zero heart attacks and strokes," said Ranndy Kellogg, Omron Healthcare president and CEO, who also described the newest smartwatch as "a breakthrough."
Coming from Omron, an established brand that's famous for their medical monitoring products, the HeartGuide smartwatch has been anticipated since last year, when it was first announced to still be under clinical tests but was yet to be submitted to the Food and Drug Administration for review. The wearable actually has a cuff, like the ones in the conventional albeit tinier, that inflates, measuring the systolic and diastolic rates.
Features Of The Blood Pressure Smartwatch
It has been given a go-signal by the FDA recently, impressively snatching a 510k clearance, which meant it rendered as accurate as other blood pressure monitoring devices in the market. Omron announced that preorders start on Dec. 20 at 12 p.m. EST and shipping begins on Jan. 8, 2019.
Meanwhile, apart from the blood pressure monitoring function of the Omron HeartGuide, it has more features that work like any fitness smartwatch there is — it can count steps, monitor sleeping habits, and can receive text, emails, and calls. The company further claimed that a fully charged gadget could last up to 48 hours. It is placed at $499 per smartwatch, quite more expensive than other devices available.
Along with the HeartGuide is its partner, the HeartAdvisor app, which will provide health insights on the user's results. It will be free for download come January for every purchase of the wrist blood pressure system.
Meanwhile, the announcement came on the heels of reports of complaints of the Apple Watch Series 4, with a doctor saying the ECG feature of the smartwatch gives erroneous diagnostics at times.
